Water shield



'Feb. 2, 1954 J. c. KANTER 2,668,081

WATER SHIELD Filed Aug.. 3, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Jjlck C ATTORNEYS.

J. C. KANTER Feb. 2, 1954 WATER SHIELD 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 3, 1951 INVENTOR Zack CZK anl'er,

ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 2, 1954 J. c. KANTER ,668,08

. WATER SHIELD Filed Aug. 3, 1951 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 25 I 16 \l. BMWW |l' 17 INVENTOR.

alacic C.Kanbe2;

ATTORNEY-5'.

in which like reference numerals are employed to designate like parts and, more particularly, to Figure 1 thereof, in which reference numeral H designates a tubular supporting member having the general configuration of a C clamp, it will be observed that this supporting member is provided with a valve i2 of any conventional type found suitable for the purpose. A threaded connector portion I3 is employed for the purpose of connecting th apparatus by hose II to a source of water under pressure.

Two legs [4 and I5 of the C clamp supporting member are tubular, thereby providing fluid communication between the threaded connector [3 and a rotatably mounted nozzle 16.

As best indicated in Figures 4 and 5, the cylindrical nozzle I6 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced discharge outlets or orifices ll directed so as to produce a rotary motion of the nozzle. In addition, certain ones of orifices H are offset in opposite directions from the vertical center line or diameter 18 of the nozzle at a small angle which may vary from to about 10, depending upon the results desired. It has been found that angles in excess of 10 produce undesirable results for the reason that such large angles of water projection result in substantial water damage in structures otherwise undamaged. Certain other ones of orifices H are positioned on the vertical center line Hi.

In both embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed, the orifices I! may be considered in groups of three. It will be readily apparent from an inspection of Figures 4 and that the first orifice of each group such, for example, as orifice I9, is positioned so as to project water outwardly from the device and slightly to the right thereof, as viewed in Figure 5. The second orifice 20 of each group is positioned to project water outwardly in a, plane containing the vertical center line I8 of the nozzle and normal to the horizontal center line 2| thereof. The third orifice 22 of each group is positioned to project water outwardly from the nozzle and slightly to the left of the vertical center line it, as best indicated in Figure 5. The size of these apertures may vary, but it has been determined experimentally that the apertures should have an inside diameter lying within the range of oneiourth inch to five-eighths inch for optimum results.

The C clamp supporting bracket is further provided with a clamping flange 23 having an internally threaded hole 24, therein for the accommodation of a threaded clamping screw 25. A stop flange 26 extends inwardly of leg l5 and is in alignment with the clamping screw 25 and the flange 23. An internally threaded hole 21 is provided in the stop flange 26 for accommodating bolt 28 which is provided for the purpose of extending the length of stop flange 26 should it be found desirable to do so. Pivotally mounted bars 29 and 30, which are pointed at the outer end thereof, are provided for the purpose of contributing support to the C clamp when secured to the wall 3| of a building and, in addition, to provide a means for positioning the device upon a roof 32 of a building or similar structure. When placed upon the roof of a structure, the bars 29 and 36, together with the lower surface of clamping flange 23, function as a tripod.

Referring now to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 8, 9 and 10, it will be observed that no fluid passes through the C clamp supporting bracket, generally designated by numeral 33, as

in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, described hereinbefore. Instead, a tubular nozzle connector member 34 is secured in any suitable manner to the G clamp supporting bracket 33 such, for example, as by welding or by casting the member 34 integrally with the O clamp supporting bracket 33. The nozzle connector member 34 is provided with an externally threaded portion 35 at one end thereof for connecting the member 34 to a line of fire hose H. Nozzle I6 is mounted at the other end of the member 34 and a conventional valve I2 is disposed within the member 34 near the threaded end portion 35.

The C clamp supporting bracket 33 includes two portions 36 and 31, respectively. The portions 36 and 31 of the C clamp are provided with complementary halves of a double-sided hinge joint 38. When assembled portions 36 and 31 are connected to one another by bolts 39 and 4! which are inserted into registering holes provided in each side of hinge 38. By the provision of hinge 38, the two portions 36 and 31 of the C clamp supporting bracket may be folded one upon the other for the purpose of conserving space during storage and providing an apparatus which may be easily transported from one position to another by a member of a fire fighting crew.

The pivotally mounted bars 42 and 43 are respectively provided with tubular end portions 44 and 45 for the accommodation of the shanks 46 and 41 of the pointed end portions 48 and 49. The length of the bars 42 and 43 may be adjusted to meet the particular conditions of operation by merely extending or further inserting one or both of the shanks 46 and 41 within the tubular end portions 44 and 45 and then securing the shanks in their adjusted positions by means of pins 5! and 52 inserted-into registering holes in each of the tubular end portions 44 and 45 and in each of the shanks 46 and 41.

Similarly, the tubular stop flange 53 receives the shank 54 of a capped rod 55 which is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes for registry with corresponding holes in stop flange 53 and is secured in a selected position by pin 56 passed through the registering holes in the stop flange and the shank.

Stated briefly in summary, the present invention contemplates the provision of a new and improved fire preventive apparatus which has a rotating nozzle associated therewith for the purpose of establishing a circular water curtain ad- Jacent a structure desired to be protected from the heat of an adjacent fire.

The present invention has been described as being of a mobile type which may be temporarily clamped to a portion of a building or other structure. It will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains that such an apparatus may be incorporated as part of the permanent fire preventive apparatus of the structure. Furthermore, it will be readily appreciated that different nozzles having different operating characteristics may be utilized in accordance with the present invention Without departing from the spirit thereof. In addition, under certain conditions of service, as when gasoline storage tanks are burning, it may be found desirable to apply a fluid other than water to the apparatus of the instant invention. The fluid chosen is, of course, dependent upon the nature of the fire and does not alter the inventive concept herein disclosed.

While the invention has been described with reference to a certain preferred example, which gives satisfactory results, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is my intention, therefore, to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A fire preventing spraying apparatus including a support having an intermediate portion and angularly disposed end portions, a fluid nozzle connected to apparatus, said nozzle including a rotary cylindrical housing having circumferentially spaced discharge outlets located to rotatably drive the nozzle and to efiect a circular water curtain disposed substantially parallel to a predetermined surface to be protected from fire, means for connecting the nozzle to a source of fluid under pressure, spaced coacting clamping members connected to the end portions of said support for engaging a fixed member therebetween, to maintain the apparatus in a stationary position, and means pivotally connected to opposite sides of said intermediate portion for engaging a supporting surface.

2. A fire preventing spraying apparatus including a support having an intermediate tubular portion and angularly disposed end portions, one of said end portions being tubular and communicating with the intermediate tubular portion, a nozzle mounted on said tubular end portion, said nozzle including a rotatably cylindrical housing having circumferentially spaced discharge outlets at predetermined angles ranging from 0 to relative to the center plane or diameter of the housing, means for connecting a source of fluid under pressure to the intermediate portion of the apparatus, valve means for controlling the supply of fiuid to the apparatus, the end portions of said support having longitudinally aligned clamping members arranged to engage opposite sides of a fixed member to maintain the apparatus in a stationary position.

3. A fire preventing spraying apparatus including a support having an intermediate portion and angularly disposed end portions, said intermediate portion being in sections, means pivotally connecting said sections, a nozzle mounted on one and angularly disposed end portions, said intermediate portion being in sections, means pivotally connecting said sections, a nozzle mounted on one of the intermediate sections, said nozzle including a rotary cylindrical housing having circumferentially spaced discharge outlets, certain of said outlets extending radially from the housing and others at inclined angles relative thereto so as to provide a protective circular water curtain between the apparatus and a predetermined surface to be protected from fire, means for connecting a source of fiuid under pressure to the nozzle, means for controlling the fluid supply to the nozzle, adjustable clamping means connected to the end portions of the apparatus for engaging opposite sides of a fixed member to maintain the apparatus in a stationary position, and legs pivoted to opposite sides of the apparatus for engaging the ground to assist in supporting the apparatus in operative position.

JACK C. KANTER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 144,696 Orr Nov. 18, 1873 197,733 Kirby Dec. 4, 1877 199,171 Abbott et a1 Jan. 15, 1878 199,633 Fiske Jan. 29, 1878 903,788 Schmidt Nov. 10, 1908 952,530 Kelley Mar. 22, 1910 1,780,308 Morris Nov. 4, 1930 2,592,306 Maze Apr. 8, 1952 2,631,061 Nelson Mar. 10, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 426,223 France July 1, 1911 

